As the Portuguese head coach begins his tenure, Sky Sports explores how long it took other top managers to shape their teams.

Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United comes at a crucial juncture, with the club languishing in 13th place in the Premier League. Despite this rocky start, Amorim has been tasked with swiftly turning the club’s fortunes around. The expectation is clear—there will be no honeymoon period for the Portuguese manager. But how long will it take him to shape a team in his image, and how does that compare to the transitions seen under other top managers?

When Amorim was appointed, there were immediate questions about how he would handle the squad’s complexities, with a mixture of star players and underperformers. His first test comes at Ipswich Town on November 24, and he is expected to carry the momentum from interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy’s brief tenure. Van Nistelrooy steadied the ship with three wins and a draw in his four games, setting up Amorim with a solid foundation upon which to build.

One of Amorim’s key challenges will be revitalising a squad that, under Erik ten Hag, had shown signs of stagnation. Ten Hag’s tenure ultimately ended after disappointing results, and Amorim must hit the ground running. The team’s struggles, especially in the Premier League, demand immediate change, and Amorim will be keen to build upon van Nistelrooy’s tactical groundwork.

Unlike some of the long-term projects seen with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, or Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Amorim faces a different kind of pressure. While managers like Guardiola took time—four transfer windows, to be exact—to fully implement his vision at City, Amorim has less leeway given United’s current position. Klopp, similarly, had his own early struggles at Liverpool but benefitted from sustained backing, while Arteta’s gradual rebuild at Arsenal has taken shape over multiple windows.

At United, Amorim’s key task will be addressing the variety of attacking options at his disposal. With wide players like Antony, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, and Alejandro Garnacho all competing for spots, Amorim will need to decide how best to utilise them. Antony, in particular, has struggled to justify his £86m price tag and now finds himself as a fifth-choice option in his position. Amorim may be forced to adapt the squad’s attacking structure, potentially shifting Rashford into a more central, inverted role, as he has done in previous seasons.

Additionally, Amorim’s tactical preferences could impact the way the team plays. A 3-4-3 system may see Garnacho’s role reduced unless he can adjust to Amorim’s style, potentially leading to changes in the starting XI and player roles. As the manager starts to mould his team, it’s clear that the key to his success will be balancing the wealth of options available while fostering cohesion in the squad.

In the long term, Amorim’s greatest challenge may revolve around how to deploy his midfielders. With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte forming a solid axis in the middle, he will need to decide how best to balance the attacking and defensive responsibilities within his squad. The arrival of new players, coupled with Amorim’s tactical vision, will likely shape the future of United’s playing style.

However, Amorim’s task is not just about tweaking the squad; it’s about building a lasting legacy. A quick fix may not be enough, and the club’s hierarchy will likely expect substantial progress after one or two transfer windows. This timeframe mirrors the experiences of Guardiola, Klopp, and Arteta—who all required a couple of windows to fine-tune their teams before achieving sustained success.

In his first months at Old Trafford, Amorim will likely focus on small adjustments—building a robust defensive structure and finding balance in attack. But his longer-term project will involve deeper changes, particularly in how he aligns his wide players and solidifies the spine of his team.

As Amorim begins his journey with Manchester United, all eyes will be on whether he can replicate the kind of success seen with other top managers, or if his tenure will be defined by the need for quick fixes in the face of mounting pressure. The coming transfer windows will be pivotal in determining whether Amorim can truly leave his mark on United’s squad.